COC extends deadline for City Harvest Church leaders to submit objections to removal

The Commissioner of Charities has extended the deadline for eight City Harvest Church leaders to submit their objections to remove them from office.

They were originally given a one-month deadline, which ends today, to make representations. As a "goodwill gesture", the Commissioner has given them another two months, after the eight requested more time.

In return, the eight have voluntarily agreed to extend their suspension orders by two months. The chuch's governing board has also been given the same two-month deadline extension to make representations on behalf of its leaders.

At the same time, the Commissioner also lifted the suspension of Kong's wife, Ms Ho Yeow Sun with immediate effect. Her suspension was to lapse in August. She was not among the eight whom the Commissioner acted to remove from office last month, although she was suspended along with them last year.

The Commissioner's office said it has reviewed her suspension orders and are "satisfied that it is now appropriate to discharge the orders".

Ms Ho and the church's board were notified on Monday.

While the COC wait for representations for the eight to come in before July 13, it will now assess representations made by members of the public, for which the deadline is up.

It could not say how many letters it received.

COC first suspended, then acted to remove the church leaders from office after it said it found misconduct and mismanagement of church funds.

The Straits Times

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